The XIV National Congress of Biochemistry and Plant Molecular Biology & 7th Symposium Mexico-USA will be held in Campeche, Mexico, November 29 - December 2, 2011. The objectives of the meeting are to: 1) share the most recent research findings in plant biochemistry, genomics, and genetics between U.S. and Mexican colleagues in order that they may explore common research interests; 2) facilitate collaboration on plant biology research between US and Mexican plant scientists; and 3) ensure that there is broad participation from the US at the conference, by targeting early career, women and minority scientists. The proposed topics focus on fundamental discoveries that extend our understanding of several aspects of plant biology and address compelling and novel scientific discoveries relative to plant biochemistry, molecular biology, and food security. The proposed meeting topics include: Plant responses to the environment, Plant-Pathogen and insect interactions, Plant nutrition, Plant/crop evolution, Epigenetic regulation of plant processes, Plant molecular systematics and biodiversity, Applied biotechnology, Association mapping and crop improvement, Comparative structural and functional genomics
Broader Impacts The international and local organizing committees will identify women, early career scientists and participants who are members of underrepresented groups. The targets for participation are: 50% for female representation, 15% for underrepresented groups and 15-20% for early career scientists.
Final Report: The 7th Biennial Symposium Mexico-USA and The XIV National Congress of Biochemistry and Plant Molecular Meeting Project Title: Conference: The XIV National Congress of Biochemistry and Plant Molecular Biology & 7th Symposium Mexico-USA (Campeche, Mexico: November 29 - December 2, 2011) PI: Carroll Vance Awardee: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Award Number: 114394 The scientific meeting consisted of three all day sessions, November 30-December 2 taking place in the Convention Center in Campeche, Mexico. The conference format consisted of international authorities contributing to overview plenary symposia, followed by invited speakers at more specific parallel (concurrent) symposia, and poster presentations. There were twenty nine oral papers presented in seven plenary session and forty-nine oral presentations presented in 10 concurrent sessions. In addition there were four poster sessions having two hundred nineteen posters. The conference attendance was some two hundred fifty, with twenty five participants from the USA fourteen of which were early career scientists. Ten women from the USA were plenary speakers. The meeting contributed to enhancement and improvement of scientific activities by providing a forum for PIs, Postdoctoral Associates, and Graduate and Undergraduate Students to discuss the most recent discoveries in plant biochemistry, genomics, and genetics. Topics included were plant-microbe interactions, functional and comparative genomics, signal transduction, gene regulation and developmental processes, metabolism and applied biotechnology. These topics reflect areas of research deemed important by both NSF and USDA. One of the major objectives of this biennial program is to foster collaboration between USA and Mexico plant scientists. It is rewarding to note that three new collaborations were established between USA and Mexican scientists and several ongoing collaborations were strengthened. Two individuals from the USA and Mexico were identified as organizers for the next meeting to be held in 2013. The conference program will be mailed to Dr. Warr. Carroll Vance January 2, 2013
